TPE Targets-Part 1, The Unparalleled Gift of Kyle Anderson

This Memphis Grizzlies team is so close.

I’m talking the ending of “Speed” close.

That’s how close these guys are to winning a championship, at least, in this ginger’s opinion.

After three years of being the young, brash upstarts in the league, that image has since faded. Now they remain entrenched as contenders. A team that is ready to win a title.

As such, I don’t view this squad as being a significant move away or even a series of moves away. Zach Kleiman has done nothing short of a remarkable job in drafting and building this team.

Nor do they need another superstar. The three Memphis stars? Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane? I’d stack those guys up against any other “Big Three” in the league.

This scenario does not call for a drastic move. In fact, quite the opposite. The way I see it, they’re a single, solitary move away… One simple acquisition from having a roster that can contend for—and win—a title year after year.

That’s the goal, right? Plus, It’s not like Memphis is without the means to achieve said goal, either. The team has several methods to be additive as opposed to subtractive.

They’ve yet to use either their Mid-Level or Bi-Annual Exceptions. Both of which are available for the team to use to sign free agents.

But here’s the thing… the free agents that are still unsigned? Well, if I were a betting man, I’d wager to say they’re still unsigned for a reason.

It’s also worth noting, that, unlike the Traded-Player Exception, Memphis will keep these. That is, they’ll keep both exceptions for use next year if they choose to use neither. Don’t act surprised if the front office saves the cash and rolls them over.

That TPE is different, though. The Grizzlies will have one year to use it, with the clock already starting to tick. The fact that it only functions in trades also leaves the options wide open. The pool of guys expanded to most of the league, just like that.

Despite the entire league being a fair claim, Memphis needs to slow roll their approach. They must make sure of it.

The last thing this front office should do is rush head-first into a deal.

They’re too close for that.

If the Grizzlies make the mistake of bringing in the wrong guy, it could potentially to derail everything this team—these guys—have worked for.

This is something that cannot happen.

The purpose of this series is to break down three players… Three possible options for Memphis to target with their TPE.

While approaching each part, remember what the Grizzlies already have, as well as what they need.

We know from experience that it’s typical of Taylor Jenkins to roll with an eight-man rotation. At least in the post-season. So as far as I’m concerned, the goal should be to improve their top eight guys.

That’s the purpose of this exercise. Not to speculate on the possible trades they’ll make…

…but to improve upon the Grizzlies’ rotation— one through eight.

And as mentioned earlier… they’re already pretty damn close.

• Ja Morant
• Marcus Smart
• Desmond Bane
• Jaren Jackson Jr.
• Steven Adams

• Luke Kennard
• Brandon Clarke or Xavier Tillman Sr. (dependent on BC’s recovery)
• Kyle Anderson
• Ziaire Williams or Santi Aldama (if necessary)

So, why not start with a familiar face? The first player for the Grizzlies to target with their TPE is… Kyle freaking Anderson. The slow burn play of ‘Slow-Mo’ isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying two things: 1) He may be precisely what Memphis needs, and 2) He’s a player damn near impossible to imitate.

Before the start of last season, the front office made the decision to put all their eggs in the “Youths” basket. Regardless of how you feel about the decision now—Kleiman’s made his thoughts known—it meant “no más Kyle.” Goodbye ‘Slow-Mo,’ and hello collection of rooks.

Sigh. Are you familiar with hindsight? See, the most intriguing thing about it is… it’s 20/20. Instead, Memphis let its hubris get the best of it.

Do you think they knew their rookie class would struggle? Compared to their past couple of draft classes, at least? And do you think they had any idea that Anderson would become the optimal version of himself once gone? And if they knew, would they have let him walk? Not likely.

That’s exactly what happened, though… Kyle transformed into Optimus Anderson last year. With the Timberwolves, Anderson delivered his most ‘Slow-Mo-y’ season to date. He evolved into exactly what the Grizzlies coveted—your prototypical 3-and-D wing. Too bad it occurred while the ‘Youth Movement’ was in full swing. God, I sound like an old man yelling at the clouds.

Yet, last year, Kyle found new levels to his game. Last season he averaged 11.9 PTS, 6.8 REB, 6.2 AST, 1.4 STL, & 1.2 BLK per 36 minutes. Those are career marks in assists and blocks per game. While those point averages would place in his personal top 3.

It was the efficiency paired with those points that proved to be fascinating. After never shooting more than 37.5% from deep, Anderson’s 3P% jumped all the way up to 41.0%. That’s good enough to be in the league’s 89th percentile. You pair that with his 50.9 FG%, and you have one lethal shooter. Emphasis on “shooter,” as Memphis would love nothing more than to add Kyle to the ranks of Kennard and Bane.

A lethal shooter who was already a lethal defender, mind you. Considering my caveat for trades—the target must be an additive on defense, not a subtractive—that matters. This team can make up the offense; it cannot afford to lose ground defensively. Per cleaning the glass, Kyle’s defensive prowess hit elite levels last season. His BLK% and STL% were both in the league’s 92 percentile or higher. Last I checked, that’s pretty good, right?

Additionally, his defensive rebounding remained top-notch; he ranked in the 76th percentile or higher on the defensive glass. You need not look far to see his furtive skills on display either… Anderson is currently “capital H”-Hooping with the Chinese National Team.

Not sure there was a more under-the-radar, complete 3-and-D wing than ‘Slow-Mo’ last year. It’s at least hard to argue with those numbers. If Anderson is able to—forget getting better—not get worse… he would fit this rotation like a glove.

Consider his familiarity with the guys already, as well as his comfort with Coach Jenkins. Look at Anderson’s final Memphis season. Of the 17 five-man lineup combinations that TJ used that year… For those who played at least 35 minutes… ‘Slow-Mo’ was in 3 of the top 6.

Now, there’s a chance you stop and ponder why? Why, in the name of Barbenheimer, would the Timberwolves trade Anderson? Well, Minnesota traded for Rudy Gobert (remember that), so I wouldn’t describe that front office as “savvy.”

Plus, he’ll be playing on the last year of his deal (2 yrs, $18,000,000), meaning he’s playing on an expiring contract. That’s the exact type of ammo used for trade fodder deal after deal after deal. If Minnesota could recoup assets for Anderson? Why would they not?

Look, the Grizzlies are so, so close… it may be ‘Slow-Mo’ who speeds the championship timeline up a skosh. If he’s attainable, Memphis shouldn’t think twice. Get the man back to the Forum.